Verdict · NHTSA data
One of the years to avoid
With 287 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 6.2 times the median Trans Sport year — the 1998 model ranks #2 of 17 Trans Sport years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 28 injuries in total across these filings.
No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across engine (53), lighting (31), and steering (28), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.
287
NHTSA complaints
6
Recalls
7
Investigations
17
Crash-involved
4
Fires reported
28
Injuries
0
Deaths
—
NCAP overall
| Component | Complaints | Share | vs prior year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 53 | 18% | ▲ up |
| Lighting | 31 | 11% | ▼ down |
| Steering | 28 | 10% | ▼ down |
| Body & Structure | 21 | 7% | ▼ down |
| Airbags | 21 | 7% | ▲ up |
| Brakes | 20 | 7% | — flat |
| Transmission | 17 | 6% | — flat |
| Latches & Locks | 16 | 6% | — flat |
| Electrical System | 15 | 5% | ▲ up |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 3% | — flat |
| Visibility & Wipers | 8 | 3% | ▼ down |
| Suspension | 8 | 3% | ▲ up |
| Tires & Wheels | 8 | 3% | ▲ up |
| Other | 7 | 2% | — flat |
| Fuel System | 7 | 2% | ▼ down |
| Seats | 7 | 2% | ▲ up |
| Speed Control | 5 | 2% | ▲ up |
| Child Seat | 4 | 1% | ▲ up |
| Climate Control (A/C & Heat) | 1 | 0% | ▼ down |
6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Defect
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Consequence
FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy
DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
Defect
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR COULD BE INJURED.
Consequence
IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST AND A WRIST OR LOWER ARM INJURY MAY RESULT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE REPLACED FOR APPEARANCE REASONS. NOTE: BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, GM ADVISES OWNERS TO NOT USE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE DRIVER CAN OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR FROM SWITCHES AT THE DRIVER'S POSITION OR BY USING THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THE DRIVER SHOULD TELL PASSENGERS TO USE THE SWITCH LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE DOOR TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT. THE DRIVER SHOULD USE THE OVERRIDE SWITCH TO PREVENT OPERATION OF THE POWER DOOR BY CHILDREN OR BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ITS USE. THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER MAILING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON MAY 31, 2005. THE SECOND PHASE MAILING BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. PHASE 2 BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. PHASE 3 (FINAL PHASE) BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2005, TO ALL REMAINING CUSTOMERS. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668; OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
Defect
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence
IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS. THE DOOR CLOSES BUT MAY NOT BE LATCHED. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE.
Consequence
AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CONTINUED UNDER SAFETY RECALL 01V-264. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE (1) A BROKEN SHIFT CABLE FITTING OR (2) LOOSE SHIFT LINKAGE. CONSEQUENTLY, MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER TO A 'PARK' POSITION MAY NOT SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION TO 'PARK'.
Consequence
THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE RANGE SELECTOR CABLE.
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE ARM CAN CONTACT A BRAKE LINE WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM MODULATOR VALVE. THIS CONTACT CAN CHAFE THE BRAKE LINE RESULTING IN A BRAKE FLUID LEAK.
Consequence
BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN CAUSE REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRAKE LINE CLIP TO ENSURE PROPER CLEARANCE. ALSO THE BRAKE LINES WILL BE INSPECTED TO ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS CONDITION AND WILL REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.
Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.
“PROB #1 - INTAKE LEAKING - NEEDS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASTKET REPLACEMENT. LOCAL DEALER WILL NOT PAY FOR. PROB #2 - I HAVE LOST TWO HEADLAMP LENSE COVERS IN THE PAST YEAR - DEALER SAID THIS HAPPENS "A LOT!, AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ADHESIVE" I HAD TO REPLACE TWO COMPLETE…”
“HEAD LIGHT DOME COMES OFF LEAVING LAMP EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS. THIS IS A HAZARD. IF LAMP IS EXPOSED TO RAIN, IT MAY BURST LEAVING ONLY ONE FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INFORMAED US THAT THIS IS INDEED A PROBLEM ON THIS AND OTHER VEHICLES BY…”
“RE: COMPLAINT OF UNSATISFACTORY TRANSACTION. *BF THE STEERING LOCKED WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD HIS VEHICLE WAS ABOUT 200 VEHICLE OUT OF…”
“THE PASSENGER'S SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, AND ALLOWS CARBON MONOXIDE INTO THE VEHICLE, IDLING OR DRIVING WHEN ALL WINDOWS ARE UP. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND HAS ADJUSTED THE DOOR PER A BULLETIN FROM PONTIAC. THIS PROBLEM HAS RESULTED IN CONSUMER GETTING ILL. *AK”
“WHILE DRIVING DRIVER PASSED OUT ANDHAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT INTO A BRICK BUILDING, IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER IN THIS CRASH. THE FRONT END WAS TOTALED. PASSENGER COLLAPSED AND WAS HOSPITALIZED . DRIVER SUSTAINED FRACTURED…”
NHTSA data argues against it: 287 complaints put the 1998 model at #2 of 17 Trans Sport years. It is one of the Trans Sport years to avoid.
According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are engine (53 complaints), lighting (31 complaints), steering (28 complaints).
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.
NHTSA opened 7 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.
Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Trans Sport years to avoid are 1997, 1998, 1995, 1994, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1990, 1991. The cleanest record among Trans Sport years belongs to 2002.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.